Nick Saban sat his starters. Eddie Lacy and AJ McCarron had done enough damage on offense. The Tide’s defense had allowed a mere eight first downs in pitching a shutout.

With such a critical game on the horizon, there was no need to keep his mainstays on the field.

Georgia took a similar approach. Quarterback Aaron Murray tossed two touchdown passes and freshmen tailbacks Todd Gurley and Keith Marshall each had a pair of scores. And in a snap, the attention turned to Atlanta.

“All that matters is this game,” Georgia linebacker Christian Robinson told reporters after the game about the SEC title game. “This is everything. This what you play for.”

Alabama reached the mountaintop last year without even playing for the SEC title. But to get back there this time, it has to win it.